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Do-It-Yourself Beauty Tricks at the Grocery Store
Skip the cosmetics counter and go to the supermarket
Your kitchen is always open when you need a snack, but when was the last time you reached into the refrigerator for a beauty boost? If you’re looking to save some cash and give a hand to the environment by reducing the packaging in your beauty regimen, it’s time to take a second look at beautifying foods that are probably sitting in your cabinets at this very moment.
Vinegar: Your New Shine Miracle
Apple cider vinegar (just a dollar or two for an entire bottle) is an inexpensive and time-tested hair rinse that is recommended even in salons. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of warm water. Pour the solution through your hair after you’ve shampooed and rinsed, but before you condition. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse away. You’ll get clarifying, pH balancing, color-saving benefits and a lot of extra shine.
Citrus Peel: An Alpha-Hydroxy Powerhouse
Next time you eat an orange or grapefruit, don’t be so quick to toss the peel. Rubbing the pithy white inside of a citrus peel gently on your face will give you an instant alpha-hydroxy facial. Leave on for five to fifteen minutes before rinsing. The fruit acids in citrus peels are especially effective at exfoliating and breaking down dirt and oils. You’ll notice the glow! The pith of a lemon is also whitening. Rub it on teeth as an alternative to bleaching.
Olive Oil: Head-To-Toe Hydration
That olive oil is intensely hydrating and packed with nourishing vitamin E is a no-brainer. The surprise comes in the sheer number of beauty products that it can replace! Comb olive oil through dry hair ten minutes before you shower, then shampoo away. The result is an instant hair mask. Use a few drops on a cotton ball to dissolve stubborn mascara. Before bed, massage a palmful into worn-out feet to heal rough, dry patches. To prep for an indulgent at-home manicure, add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a dish of warm water. Soak your fingers for several minutes before buffing and painting. Smooth down frizzy hair with a drop of olive oil on unruly areas.
Honey: Sweet Skin Healer
The antiseptic, healing properties of honey render it an amazing skin secret. Doctors have used the potent Manuka variety to heal wounds and scars. You can use honey on rashes or dry patches or as an ingredient in a facial. The Green Beauty Guide, by Julie Gabriel, includes a recipe for the soothing, skin-strengthening Lemon Cheesecake Whitening Mask with a honey base. Whip together two tablespoons of honey, four teaspoons of lemon juice, three teaspoons of yogurt and one egg white and leave on your face for fifteen minutes. In addition to the bacteria-fighting honey, lemon and yogurt fade scars while egg white boosts skin’s defenses. And you’ll love this mask’s built-in aromatherapy.
So get comfortable with a little food experimentation. Exclusive and pricey beauty brands were born out of a kitchen! And since you control the quality, use organic products whenever possible. You’ll be giving your body luxurious pampering, preservative-free!
Do-It-Yourself Beauty Tricks at the Grocery Store
Skip the cosmetics counter and go to the supermarket
Your kitchen is always open when you need a snack, but when was the last time you reached into the refrigerator for a beauty boost? If you’re looking to save some cash and give a hand to the environment by reducing the packaging in your beauty regimen, it’s time to take a second look at beautifying foods that are probably sitting in your cabinets at this very moment.
Vinegar: Your New Shine Miracle
Apple cider vinegar (just a dollar or two for an entire bottle) is an inexpensive and time-tested hair rinse that is recommended even in salons. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of warm water. Pour the solution through your hair after you’ve shampooed and rinsed, but before you condition. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse away. You’ll get clarifying, pH balancing, color-saving benefits and a lot of extra shine.
Citrus Peel: An Alpha-Hydroxy Powerhouse
Next time you eat an orange or grapefruit, don’t be so quick to toss the peel. Rubbing the pithy white inside of a citrus peel gently on your face will give you an instant alpha-hydroxy facial. Leave on for five to fifteen minutes before rinsing. The fruit acids in citrus peels are especially effective at exfoliating and breaking down dirt and oils. You’ll notice the glow! The pith of a lemon is also whitening. Rub it on teeth as an alternative to bleaching.
Olive Oil: Head-To-Toe Hydration
That olive oil is intensely hydrating and packed with nourishing vitamin E is a no-brainer. The surprise comes in the sheer number of beauty products that it can replace! Comb olive oil through dry hair ten minutes before you shower, then shampoo away. The result is an instant hair mask. Use a few drops on a cotton ball to dissolve stubborn mascara. Before bed, massage a palmful into worn-out feet to heal rough, dry patches. To prep for an indulgent at-home manicure, add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a dish of warm water. Soak your fingers for several minutes before buffing and painting. Smooth down frizzy hair with a drop of olive oil on unruly areas.
Honey: Sweet Skin Healer
The antiseptic, healing properties of honey render it an amazing skin secret. Doctors have used the potent Manuka variety to heal wounds and scars. You can use honey on rashes or dry patches or as an ingredient in a facial. The Green Beauty Guide, by Julie Gabriel, includes a recipe for the soothing, skin-strengthening Lemon Cheesecake Whitening Mask with a honey base. Whip together two tablespoons of honey, four teaspoons of lemon juice, three teaspoons of yogurt and one egg white and leave on your face for fifteen minutes. In addition to the bacteria-fighting honey, lemon and yogurt fade scars while egg white boosts skin’s defenses. And you’ll love this mask’s built-in aromatherapy.
So get comfortable with a little food experimentation. Exclusive and pricey beauty brands were born out of a kitchen! And since you control the quality, use organic products whenever possible. You’ll be giving your body luxurious pampering, preservative-free!
